2005 Saturn L300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
16,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 25 complaints (28.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Suspension:Rear | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Electrical System: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2; Suspension:Rear: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2005: 7; 2006: 6; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10162065 · 2006-07-11 (July 11, 2006)
THE CAR ROUTINELY WOULD NOT START OR WOULD START AND STALL OUT ON THE FIRST START OF THE DAY OR AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE VEHICLE WOULD APPEAR TO RUN NORMALLY AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED ON THE SECOND OR THIRD ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE COULD THEN BE STARTED AND TURNED OFF NORMALLY. IF THE VEHICLE SAT AGAIN THEN THE PROBLEM WOULD APPEAR AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SATURN OF LAKESIDE WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE STALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11020936 · 2017-08-31 (August 31, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FRACTURED AND ENTERED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC NOTICED A LARGE HOLE IN THE ENGINE COVER, WHICH ALLOWED THE DRIVE BELT TO ENTER INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE INDEPENDENT ME…
Owner-reported narrative. 129,472 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145120 · 2005-12-13 (December 13, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DETACHMENT OCCURRED WHERE THE SHOULDER HARNESS WAS ATTACHES TO THE PILLAR. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WERE GOING TO CALL HIM BACK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170681 · 2006-10-12 (October 12, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDAL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, BOTH WERE PRESSED DUE TO THE CLOSE PLACEMENT OF THE TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE WAY THE PEDALS WERE DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152484 · 2006-03-11 (March 11, 2006)
MY NEW 2005 L300 HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THE SHAKING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, IT THUMPS AND SHAKES THROUGHOUT THE FRONT BODY, PEDALS AND STEERING MAKING HANDLING DIFFICULT AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND ESPECIALLY IN SLUSH AND SNOW. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES AND BALANCED 5 TIMES. EVEN THOUGH CHANGING TIRES NEVER STOPS THE SHAKING. I'VE LOST CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE DUE TO THE CONTROL LOSS DUE TO SHAKING. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER CORRECTED SOME OF THE STEERING ISSUES ON THE LAST VISIT …
Owner-reported narrative. 36 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173588 · 2006-11-15 (November 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10506053 · 2013-04-12 (April 12, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VIOLENTLY AND JERKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN WARM WEATHER TEMPERATURES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER FAILED TO OPERATE TO THE DESIRED SELECTION AND DID NOT CIRCULATE THE APPROPRIATE FLOW OF AIR THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10506053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10477108 · 2012-09-26 (September 26, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION L3. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHOM INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11377541 · 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)
LEAKING FUEL PUMP
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11377541 at NHTSA ↗